Although water levels on
the prairies were low in late winter, spring rains on the breeding grounds
brought the total number of ponds above its long-term average, according
to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's annual survey.

The total population of breeding
ducks in parts of Canada and the northern
United States rose to approximately 36.2 million birds in areas that
have
been surveyed since 1955. That number represents a increase of 16 percent
from last year's population of 31.2 million birds, and was 9 percent
above
the long-term average.

"Water levels really
looked good in late spring and duck breeding
populations are up from last year," said Service Director Steve
Williams.
"Most species in the midcontinent region were above their long-term
averages, but we continue to have concerns over the status of pintails
and
scaup, whose populations remain below their long term averages."

The Waterfowl Breeding Ground
Population and Habitat Survey, the largest
and most comprehensive survey of its kind in the world, samples 1.3
million
square miles across the north- central United States, south-central
and
northern Canada, and Alaska. The survey estimates the number of ducks
in
the continent's most important nesting grounds.
Annual survey results help guide the Service in managing its waterfowl
conservation programs under authority of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty
Act. The Service works in partnership with state representatives from
the
four flyways - the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific - that
waterfowl and other birds use during their migrations to establish
regulatory frameworks for waterfowl hunting season lengths, dates and
bag
limits.

The breeding population estimate
for mallards in the traditional survey
area was 7.9 million birds, largely unchanged from last year and remained
near the long-term average. Surveys of mallards conducted in the Great
Lakes states (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) indicated the population
had decreased from 1 million in 2002 to 851,000 this year. The combined
estimates of mallards from the traditional survey area and from the
Great
Lakes states (8.8 million) are used for setting duck hunting regulations
through the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) process.

Blue-winged teal numbers;
at 5.5 million; increased 31 percent over last
year's estimate and 23 percent above their long-term average. The breeding
population estimate for green-winged teal of 2.7 million birds was 46
percent above its long-term average and at its second highest level
since
1955.

The Breeding Ground Survey
also record record increases in the number of northern shovelers at
3.6 million birds up 56 percent. Pintails, increased by 43% over 2002
estimates to 2.6 million.

Habitat conditions for breeding
waterfowl have greatly improved over last
year in most of the prairie survey areas. These improved conditions
are
reflected in the numbers of ponds counted this year. The estimate of
May
ponds (U.S. Prairies and Prairie and parkland Canada combined) of 5.2
million is 91 percent higher than last year and 7 percent above the
long-term average. Numbers of ponds in Canada (3.5 million) and the
U.S.
(1.7 million) were above 2002 estimates. Canadian ponds were similar
to
the 1974-2002 average, while ponds in the U.S. were 10% above the 1974-2002
average.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving,
protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages
the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses
542 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other
special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries,
64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations.
The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered
Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such
as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts.
It also oversees the Federal Aid program, which distributes hundreds
of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment
to state fish and wildlife agencies.